Tone-arm for talking-machines.



0.1; BOUSFIELD.

TONE ARM FOR TALKlNG MACHINES.

APPLICA'HON FILED MAY 22, IBM.

Patented May 14-, 1918.

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GFFICE.

CHARLIE J. BOUSFIELD, 0F BAY CITY, FIICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO THE DELPHEON COM- PANY, OF BAY CITY, MICHIGAN, A CORPDRATION 0F MICHIGAN.

TONE-ARRE FOR TALKING-MACHINES.

Application filed May 22, 1917.

acter of the sound undulations of the record groove. This I accomplish by providing a sound box which is arranged to assume either of two operative positions, in one of which the stylus of the sound box will cooperate with a record of the vertically undulating type to reproduce the recorded sounds, and in the other of which it will co operate with a record of the laterally undulating typo.

Another ob ect resides in the provision of a tone arm of the nature stated, embodying among other characteristics, means whereby the stylus assumes one playing position at all times, taking the groove of either the vertical undulating or lateral undulating grooved type of record on a direct line through the center of the tone arm and always at the same angle with relation to the sound box. say for instance, an angle of approximately forty five degrees.

A still further object is to provide a talking machine having a tone arm constructed so that it may be adjusted to reproduce sounds from either the vertical undulating grooved type of records or the lateral undulating grooved type or records without ad jnsting or shifting the stylus from a normal playing; position on a line extending through the center or longitudinal axis of the tone arm, or in other words, providing a tone arm constructed whereby upon the substitution of one of the two types of records for the other, the stylus will assume the same playing: position with relation to.

the tone arm when pla-yicg either record.

It is still further de zned to provide a talking machine with a tone arm which may be adjusted to present the stylus of the sound box in the same playing position with relation to the sound box and the tone arm Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 14, 1918.

Serial No. 170,206.

upon substitution of either of the two types of records referred to for the other, without adjusting the stylus with relation to the sound box and without substituting one sound box for another and without adjusting an automatic stop device if the same be used on the machine.

With the above and other objects in view the invention consists in the construction and novel combination of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and pointed out in the claims appended hereto, it being understood that various changes in the form, proportion, size and minor details of construction, within the scope of the claims may be resorted to without departing from the s irit or sacrificing any of the advantages 0 the invention.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of the inven tion, illustrating the reproducer in two different operative positions.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation.

Fig. 3 is a front elevation;

Fig. l a fragmentary detail view, partly in section, showing a; swiveled connection between members of the tone arm.

Referring now more particularly to the accompanying; drawing, the character 5 indicates a part of a talking machine cabinet on which is mounted a support 6 for the ter A which has swiveled connection with said support, the character 7 indicating a portion of a record.

The tone arm A is preferably composed of inner and outer portions a and a, the former being preferably in the form of an elbow and the latter of goose-neck form composed of sections 8 and 9 connected by a sleeve 10. The inner section 8 is rigidly connected to a sleeve 10 provided at its inner end with means 12 adapted to be pivotally connected by suitable pivots 13 between ears 1% at the outer on d of the elbow a, providing for a ball and socitet connection between said elbow a and the sleeve 10 of said section 8, downward movement of the sleeve-10 being; limited by a stop 15. The outer end of the section 9 of the goose-neck portion a of the tone arm is connected in any suitable manner with a sound box 16 of an suitable construction provided with a needle or stylus 17 The sleeve 10 between the goose-neck sec.- tions 8 and 9 is provided With a pin 19 which operates in a slot 18 formed in the outer goose-neck section 9, the latter being rotatable in said "sleeve 10 to adjust the same and the sound box so as to position. the stylus 17 for action in hill or dale and laterally undulated grooves of the record. lfhe inner goose-noel: section 8 is fixed to said sleeve 10.

A spring 20 is located in the sleeve 10 and adapted to exert tension against the inner end of the outer goose-neck section 9 to hold the latter in ad usted positions with relation to the sleeve.

When the tone arm is positioned illustrated in Fig. 2. and it is desired to substitute for the record 7, a record of a different type, the tone arm is positioned as shown in Fig. 3, and vice versa. according to whether a change is desired made from a hill ud dale record or a record provided With la eral undulations in the side Walls of the groove. This chan 'c in the adjustment or positioning of the sound box so,as to enable the needle or stylus to operate in the various types of record grooves is accomplished by adjusting the outer goose-neck section 9 in the sleeve 10 which connects the goose-necl sections 8 and 9 together. A has been stated, the spring 9.0, located in the sleeve 10, exerts such pressure against the outer goose-neck .'ecti0n 9 als to hold the goose-noel: section 9 in adjust ed turned positions with relation to the goosc neclc section 8, the goose-neck section 9 being prevented trom falling out of the sleeve 10 by virtue of the slot and pin connection 1819 while this slot and pin connection guides the rotative movement of the outer goose neck sect-ion J. In either or any adjusted position of the goose-neck section 9, to id just the position of the sound box, the stylus doe not have to bc independently adjusted disposed always in exactly the same position. that is, at an angle substantiallv forty-Jive degrees with relation to the sound box and always on a line through the center of the tone arm.

It will thus be clearly understood that the stylus itself never needs adjusting but sound box in either it is the sound box which is adjusted, the stylus being always in proper playing position in either position of the sound box, this being due to the fact that the tone arm members 8 and 9 are arranged at an angle of forty-five degrees with relation to each other (reversed 0t course), While the stylus or needle is also at an angle of substantially forty-five degrees and in center line with the longitudinal axis of the tone arm members 8 and 9.

The fact that the stylus or needle has the same position with relation to the tone arm in playing both types of records has for one advantage the fact that in a machine where an automatic stop is used, the latter does not have to be abnormally adjusted at the time the change is made from one type of record to another. Moreover, the fact that the needle is arranged at an angle to the playing position, the vibrations on the sound box are more distinct than those resultin from disposing the needle or stylus in the plane of or in the same angularrelation as the sound box. The result is that the vibration of the reproducer is more distinct and clear, render ing a fuller Volume and a clearer tone. The curvature-of the goose-neck sections 8 and 9 is such that the sound Waves are not hindered by any sharp turns or obstructions, which is an essential feature with respect to the accuracy of reproduction.

What I claim is:

1. In a talking machine, a tone arm comprising rcversely curved sections connected by means of a swivel joint, and an expansible helical spring interposed between the jointed ends of the sections to maintain a tension thereon to hold them in the required adjusted position.

2. In a talking machine, a tone arm comprising rcvcrscly curved sections, a sleeve at the end of one section and receiving the end of the other section, a pin and slot con nection between the sleeve and one of said sections, and an cxpansible helical spring disposed Within the sleeve and between the ends of the sections.

In testimony whereof I ailix my signature.

CHARLIE .l. BOUSFIELD. 

